Power-operated disk tiller



July 1, 1952 H. H. ZWEMKE POWER-OPERATED DISK TILLEIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 6, 1949 Herbert H. Zwemke JNVENTOR.

y 1952 I H. H. ZWEMKE 2,601,818

} POWER-OPERATED DISK TILLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g.2. I 68 v Filed Jan.6. 1949 70 h} ii K 6 a2 [00 i 50 am m 78 52 46 I W I r H 4a Herberf H.Zwem/re INVENTOR.

July 1, 1952 H. H. ZWEMKE POWER-OPERATED DISK TILLER 4 Sheets-Sheet '3Filed Jan. 6, 1949 INVENTOR.

Patented July 1, 1952 OFFICE POWER-OPERATED DISK TILLER Herbert H.Zwemke, Kolin, Mont.

Application January 6,1949, Serial No. 69,553

3 Claims. (01. 97-37) This invention comprises novel and usefulimprovements in a power operated disk tiller and more specificallypertains to an agricultural implement which is coupled to and drawn bythe draw bar of a tractor, which is provided with a gearing assembly foroperating the tiller disk assembly from the power take-off of a tractor,and which is provided with power operated means for vertically adjustingthe disk assembly relative to the frame of the device by means of powerobtained by the power take-off of the tractor.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a disk tiller whereinthe disk assembly may be operated by power obtained from the tractorindependently of the movement of the tractor drawn implement; and atvarious selected speeds as desired by the operator.

A further important object of the invention resides in the provision ofa device as set forth in the preceding paragraph and further aims toprovide the power operated means for raising or lowering the tiller diskassembly by means of power obtained from the power take-01f of atractor.

horizontally adjusted positions with respect 0 thereto. 1 And a furtherfeature of the invention lies in the provision of an implement as setforth in the preceding features and objects wherein the frame of theimplement is mounted upon a plurality of supporting wheels which areindividually adjustable vertically with respect to the frame forselectively supporting the latter in various positions of adjustment.

A still further feature of the invention envisions the provision of anapparatus as set. 5

forth in the foregoing objects and features wherein atiller diskassembly is rotatably carried by and dependsfrom the frame of thedevice, which tiller disk assembly is operated by a gearing assemblyfrom the power take-off of the tractor. Still another important featureof the invention resides in providing an apparatus as set forth in theforegoing features and objects wherein there is provided a manuallyadjustable An additional important feature of the inven- 2 tion residesin the provision of a device in conformity with the foregoing objectsand features wherein there is provided an operating connection betweenthe gearing assembly and mechanism for simultaneously adjusting each ofthe vertical adjusting means of the supporting wheels of the device.

And a final important feature and object of the invention to bespecifically numerated herein resides in the provision of a device asset forth in the above mentioned objects and features, wherein automaticmeans is provided for stopping further operation of the verticaladjusting means by the power operating means after a predeterminedmovement thereof; and wherein individual manual adjusting means areprovided for varying the range of movement of each of the verticaladjusting means of the individual supporting wheels.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of theinvention which will later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this device, a preferred embodiment of whichhas been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1'and taken from the right end thereof substantially from the plane of thevertical section line indicated at 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken substantiallyupon the plane of the vertical section line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a further longitudinal sectional detail view takensubstantially from the plane of section line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through the changespeed gearing assembly of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional detail view through thegearing assembly connecting the tiller disk assembly driving means withthe gearing assembly of the device;

Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional detail view takensubstantially upon the plane of the section line 'I! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view takensubstantially upon the plane -of section line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view takensubstantially upon the plane of section line 9--9 of Figure '7;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a modified or alternative formof disk construction which maybe employed to make up the tiller diskassembly; and,

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of a still further embodiment ofthis element which may be employed in the tiller disk assembly.

Referring now; more. specifically to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,attention is directed first and chiefly to Figure 1", together withFigures 2-4, wherein] lhdesignates generally the framework of adisk'tiller' agricultural implement and which frame may be of anydesired construction but preierably corn prises a transverselydisposed'framememberl2 and angularly and rearwardly disposed rear framemember 14, secured to the transverse front name-m mbe Le r lura ityvoflongii. id neli mem mbe as ad i a. ig n of whic'flfr'am members" areoined mm a rigid and durableflstructure ,asbyreinfprpirrg these armsbeing rigidl "am. hi ral y- Qtanp p rr at ii Th members .25; 3 "an 321thin l-.}W the eyebolts 24 to the 'tr nst tutes: q fl? :9 d aw bar wh Ically pivoted to theframlfl.

-D1ate' 35t s, prov ded. with Ml l l l ty ap rtur s 3 wh hla e, sel tivly I pivotally received forks or yokesjfl w are'lpivotally. connec boltsI ely v a314,. By e n s hi arrangement, the tongue assembly of "me 3H1may bejadiusted lateli lly With respect t i'd'raw member 3 6',origlnally carried b e rear end of a tractor, whereby the tongue 1 pvotally "connected'for movement in both avertical and"'Hori'z'ohtalplane with respect to the drav: bar

n'd' of frame member 1 t l, i provided a longitudinally "extending and25 selectively "empl yf t effect a is w Erin 56 b'e11 'crank assemblies,and the above'd g jg {the As will;thus be seen, upon operatic 'membef'ttare provided nal's' or 58 which thus support the rear end of theimplement frame.

The front end of the frame member l4, and the adjacent end of thetransverse member i2,

5 are connected with a plate or block 58 which likewise is provided witha vertically disposed boss 50, in which is slidably disposed avertically movable shafttfi. which adjacent its lower end is irbvis e rdlii sem st s ".5 jourgo nalling a supporting wheel 361 It should be,here noted that each of the vertically disposed shafts 50, 52 and 62 arevertically s'lidajbl'eaiid adjustable in their respective bossesin-ammonia set forth hereinafter, and are freely 15 rotatablein saidbosses in the selected position of "adjustihentfwhereby the wheels 56may thus function as castor wheels.

of these vertical shafts may be adjusted simultaneously by a commonpower operated ad- "u ing meansj'; 'gifidma'yalsoindiVidually manubijust'ed'by a' uecha is'mWhich-thusde' termines therange ofjniovementwliich may =be imparted by the power operated adjustingmeahs to;Leacljjiifthdastoi wheels, "or which rhayb'e individual adrotarymovemenvth'ereon;butis inanysuitable manner secured to the shaft toprevent endwise dis'ialacementfiel'ajtivethereto:- Thusi. although "the"cap inembe'rf 55 are non' rotatablewitw respect to the name'l1!;theshafts-"55:52- and 62 are freely"swivelled therein throug'houttheir various 'positions df verticakadjustment;

Integrally formedfuponi' on iii-"desired fr idly attached by any"desired m'echanicai- 'means "to 'the'caps or head pi'ec'esEdrenuadiaritshaped 40 arcua'tely'tdothed members 53 constituting 1faclsl for receiving the cu'stornary'holes or detents;,-o'f any" knownconstruction and-hence memes "Hated in'f'the drawing's, gby'f means of'which manual adjusting levers l0, pivoted at 12 a; the

5 cap pieces"G;'m-ay be selectively,secured'in variouspositions of;adjustment: ,7 I v f integrally "or "rigidly attached to the lever 19,are lever arms '7 lmvhich are piyoted to connect- "inglinks "16' whichin-turn1are,connectedjwith one arm 18 of a bell crank suitablyjourna'llegl in 'the'various tubularjbosses 45, Ali-and fiflpthe otherarmtil of this bell 'cranlqbeing connected .t'o a rodil'l'. Aswillreadily b'e seen by refer'ence "tofFigures;2,;4'and "1, themanualflever's [0, the

-- con ec n iin ge are all id tica innocents tion'", and ea'ch of therods g z is connected to crank arms 84 carried "by'a power operatedvertically"disposed'adjusting shaft 85.

powers means to be'subsequent ly describe; shaft 86 will"simultaneouslyoperate each-of the 'rods' 82, and by the associated linkageswill ro-"tatef'the bell cr'anlgassemblies. With the n- 35 dividual levers 10, intheir adjusted and consequentlyfixed positions, one arm of eachfibellcrank 'assembly'is "thus-provided witha fixed fulcrum, "whereby"the-"bell "crank; assembly} which is pivoted as above: mentioned-to itsrespective 60, "will 'causea "verticahmovement f th tt'e'r with respectto'th'e respective shafts' fifli 52 n 52, 'i ei e Q flowerin the--frame10"With respect to "the"supporting tvfiel 55 Thus, the entire frame maybe raised or lowered by the power operated means to be subsequently setforth, this adjusting movement being simultaneously and equallyperformed at each of the supporting wheels of the device. In addition,the levers may be individually adjusted, to thereby, vary the rangemovement of each'cf the adjusting mechanisms 'for the individual wheels,thus greatly facilitating the ease of adjustment of the device and itsadaptation to particular uses and surface contours of the ground to beworked.

Attention is next directed more specifically to Figures 1, 2 and 7,wherein there is shown a rotatable tiller disk assembly comprising aplurality of disks 08 of any desired shape, which are spaced as byspacing sleeves or collars ,90 interposed therebetween, which disks andsleeves are secured upon a tiller disk assembly shaft 92 preferably ofsquare cross section, a plurality of these disks and spacersleevescomprising a tiller disk assembly of any desired length; one end of theassembly being rotatably supported in any suitable manner by a bearing,not shown, depending from the forward end of the rear frame member I4,while the other end is journalled to the rear end of the frame member.

As shown in Figure '7, the other end of the tiller disk assembly shaft92 is socketed removably in a socket 94 carried by the external end of adriving shaft 96 suitably journalled transversely at the lower end of ahollow casing or housing 98 depending from and merging with the lowerend of a gear assembly casing I00, which is suitably carried by andsupported by the frame member 44. 1

As will thus be readily understood, by releasing the other end of theshaft 92, its end may be detached from the socket member 94, whereby thetiller disk assembly may be removed for repairs, servicing, or forreplacement of the disks 38 by any other type of disk desired,

By means of a sprocket gear I02 carried by the shaft 86, a sprocketchain I04 received in the housing 98, and entrained over the sprocket I02 and over a similar sprocket I06 carried by a power transmission shaftI06, which is journalled in the gear casing I00 and extends therefrom,the tiller disk assembly is rotated as set forth hereinafter.

The power shaft I08 extends from the gear casing I00, as shown in Figure1, into a variable speed casing IIO suitably mounted upon the framemember I4. Power is applied to the change speedgear casing assemblyIIO.from the power take-off of the tractor in the following manner. I

As shown best in Figure l, a shaft II2 which may constitute the powertake-off shaft of the tractor, or a shaft driven thereby, is utilized toimpart power to the gearing assembly of this device. joint coupling II4of any suitable design, with a female shaft II6 in which is slidably butnot .the member I is secured to a driven shaft I34 journaled inasuitable bracket or bearing I36.

. 6 The shaft I34 extends into and constitutes the driving shaft of thegearing assembly contained in the changed speed gearing housing IIO.

As will be readily seen by reference to Figure 5, the shaft I36 extendsinto and is journalled in the wall of the casing H0, and at its Thisshaft I I2 is connected by universal I inner end is provided with abevel gear I30 which constantly meshes with a similar bevel gear I40carried by a lay shaft I42. Slidably but ,non-rotatably splined upon thelay shaft I42 is a change speed gearing assembly sleeve I44, which isprovided with integrally disposed and longitudinally spaced high and lowspeed gears I46 and I48 respectively. The sleeve I44 is provided with apair, of parallel collars or flanges I50 between which is received theend of the operating lever I52 which may be manually operated in anysuitable manner for shifting the change speed gear sleeve I44. As willthus be readily understood, the sleeve I40 may be shifted to selectivelyengage either the high or low speed gears I46 and I48 with thecorresponding high and low, speed gears I54 and I56 respectively carriedby the above mentioned power shaft I08 which is journalled within thecasing IIO. By this means, it will be readily seen that power issupplied from the power takeoff of tractor, under the control of thechange spged gearing assembly IIO. to the power shaft I0 Attention isnow directed more specifically to Figures 6 and '7 foran understandingof the construction of the gearing assembly housed in the casing H0. Thepower shaft I08 extending thereinto is provided with a spur gear I58which constantly meshes with a similar spur gear I60 carried by a sleeveI62 which is freely rotatable upon a lay shaft I64 suitably journalledin the casing I00. The sleeve I62 is provided with a collar I66 for apurpose to be later described.

and terminates in clutch jaws I68 forming part of a manually engageableclutch assembly to be subsequently described. It will thus be seen thatthe sleeve I62 is continuously rotated during the entire operation ofthe power shaft I08, while the tiller disk assembly shaft 92 is likewisecontinuously rotated atthe same time.

The shaft I64, beyond the end of the sleeve I62, is provided with asplined portion I10 upon which isslidably but non-rotatably received asleeve I12 provided with an angular grooved or flanged portion I14 whichis engageable by the forked end of a bell crank I16 suitably pivoted tothe casing I00. The end of the sleeve I12 and casing sleeve I62 isprovided with clutch jaws I18 which are selectively engageable with thejaws I68 when the sleeve I12 is biased by the bell crank I16 intoengagement with the sleeve I62. The two sleeves are yieldingly urgedapart as by the spring I which is seated between the flange I66 on thesleeve I62 and the collar or flange I14 on the sleeve I12.

It will thus be seen that when the sleeve I12 is urged into engagementwith the sleeve I62 by a means to be subsequently described, that theshaft I64 by meansof the splines I10 is operatively connected to thesleeve I62 for operation thereby.

At its outer end, the lay shaft I64 is provided with a bevel gear I82which is continuously in mesh with a similar bevel gear I84 which ifdesired may be a segmental gear, and which is rigidly secured to theshaft 86 above mentioned which by means of the crank arms 84 operatesdebi -5'15 45$ wi tbb r fi u e t od byr reference 12. i fire 6, he.segmentalgear I8 4 has pi voted thereto alatch orst'oph I86 by means oia pivot pin I88, a spring I90 serving to yieldinglybias' the arm I92 'of the latch against the sleeve or hub portion of thehg'e'ar I84, to thuslimit, movement orthe M n n mem 5 i n r e bn- I,

" common control member consisting of a rod LQ' a t 94 swim xi hr a r oia over of the gear casing I00 and is yieldingly urged inwardly thereofas by afcoil spring I96. The inner end of the rod I9} isprovided with "across bar or arm I98, one end of which is "0 m;- ne'ctefd by a linlr 200with the above mentioned blell orank I16, as bymean's of am 202 slidingin an elongated slot 200 forme'dfin theend of the ta cum; lever. The'otherQend ot the cross bar orfarm ISB is provided with an angularlydisposed end 'portionj200which is slid'ably received in the giiide Z OBsuitably mounted in the gearing casing I00, and as shown more clearly inFigar s, has its end movabl'efinto an out of positioh for engagement bythe stop latch I85.

The arrangement is such that in its normal position, the 'rod I94 isurged inwardly by the spring I96 as shown in Figure '7, whereby themember'zo's is interposed into the path of move:

ment of the latching member I86, to thereby pret V wherein "there isdisclosed a disk consisting of a vent movement of 'thelat'ch,andconsequently 9f thegea'r I84 nd shaft 8'5, this'arrarigementpr-V'ehtiflg IO'tatiDh (if the Shaft '86 in 'a, direction which would lowerthe adjustment of the 'frame of the tiller disk assembly relative to thesup"- porting wheels; At the'sar'ne tiine,the clutch assembly inludingthe bell crank. I16 "and "the sleeve II2'is urged'to'its'outer positionby means of the spring I10. When now themember I94 is activated by anysuitablefmechanism not shown,

against the opposition of the spring 'I 90,the first "portion of thisino'v'ement is e'fiective to withdraw the Iocking'ihember'ZUB fromengagement with thelatch I86, thereby freeingthe shaftBB so thatthelat'ter, may be r'ot'atedby the weight of the tiller disk assemblythrough the various connecting linkages,'to lower the frame and thetiller disk "assembly to their lowermost-positions of adjustment. Uponfurther ioutward movemerit 'of the rodI9 I, the linkj20fl andthe'bellcrank I16 are now actuated,the loss motion afforded by the slot 204 andthe'pin 202 being now ta'ken u ,iso' that the sleeve I12 is move'dnponthe splined 'portio'ns I10, into engagement with the clutchjaws, I58,wherebytli'e lay shaft I00 .:is now rotated by the, continuouslyrotating istub "shaft I08. This rotation'thus actuates the sector gearI84, ca'iising rotation of the'shaft' 80 in a direction to'elevate' the,frame and the tiller disk assembly relative to. the supporting wheels.In

this direction of rotation of the shaft 86, the latch I86 is free topass the withdrawn locking pin 206; for if the latter has been returnedthe latch can yield and still pass the locking pin in the elevating movementwof thefshaft'85, y

In order to prevent undue movementror excessive movement inftheelevating action of the device, a"latera1ly disposed arm 2I0 is carriedby the sleeve I12 and is provided with an antif ric- L Itio'nrollerZIZther'eon. As shown in Figures? and Q this arm; and roller 2 I0' fand'2 I2 are so placed with respect to the position of the gear j I84,thatthej r'oller ise'ng'ageablelwith' a fitted ca'mming si riace 1 2 5"carried by any suitable portion of th'gear' casing'I00vihreby'1iponpre-' aittmnu mttemen at the shaft as, the cam ningaction of the surface 200 upontlie roller and "2Y0 will cause aisli'ding movement of th' ve' n2 upon the spl'ined portion no of the l yt I64,- against the action "of-the frictional or other resistance of therod I94 and its associatedlinkagg, to thus return the clutch memberstheir imperative position; and to againpcsi tiionl the sto' 'njmuer 206in the path of the travel of the latch I85. lt will be seen thatbymanipulations: the rod 194', the name 'Illjr'n'ay be selectively raisedor lo er d iivith respect to 'itssupporti'n'g wheels,

J permitting disengagement or thetiller prising a "disk 215 providedwith a plurality (it saw teeth ZIBjWhrpb y the disk is capable ofcutting and breaking hardor Elay soils, or surfates ncit h'eretoforebroken for "cultivation 1ll 'fu'rthtr wet-native type of disk, 'ion isdirected to the s ho tv iii'gr of Figure 1-1,

per in-220 'whic'his receivable interchange- With tfiefitlir diskspf'eVidu'Sly described 'With the shaft 92 Of the 'till'ei di Skassembly,

which hub portion is providd witha *plurality of radiating, spriiiste'ei teeth-222. These'resilient teeth are adapted to yieldinglypenetrate -cultivated soil, thereby working stubble or the likethwardsfthe surface of the "ground to "p'rovide a mii1'ch or overintherefor.

Ffrom thefioregoirig, the various uses and'adva tages of thedevicewillbe readilyunderstood fa wfurtne; explanation isbelieved to be'unneces- "s'ary. However since numerous changes will readily 'occur'tothose "skilled in the art after a "consideration of the foregoingdrawings and 'acfc'ornp'anying description, it is "not intended "to'limit the invention to the exact "construction shown and described, butall suitablemodificatiohs aiiw'equivalents"may be resorted to fallingtiller? frame, a tiller-disk assembly journaled on said frame, aplurality of supporting wheels "mounted. on said frame; -fasteningmeansfor 'securings'aid frame to the drawbar of a tractor, ajgeari r gassembly operativelyconnecting said :tiller-d1sk"'assembly to thepower'take-offof a tractor," said" gearing assembly continuously 'connects'sa'id tiller' disk assemblyto" said power takeoff, acontrol meansfor simultaneously vertically adjusting" all 'of said supporting Wheelsrelative ""to said framepand'in'eansforpoweringsaidcontrol means from"said; gearing" assembly, "said" last means including-a manuallydperable elu'tehooniiecting' said-- gearing 'aSsembIy'and said controlmeans, a stop latch limiting operation of said control means; means"connecting said manually actuated 'clutch to said stop latch forsynchromzedmovement'therewith.

2; A power operated disk 'till'er comprisinga mounted on said frame,fastening means for securing said frame to the drawbar of a tractor, agearing assembly operatively connecting said tiller disk assembly to thepower take-01f of a tractor, said gearing assembly continuouslyconnecting said tiller disk assembly to said power take-off, a controlmeans for simultaneously vertically adjusting all of said supportingwheels relative to said frame, and means for powering said control meansfrom said gearing assembly, said last means including a manuallyoperable clutch connecting said gearing assembly and said control means,a stop latch limiting operation of said control means, means connectingsaid manually actuated clutch to said stop latch for synchronizedmovement therewith, and a clutch release mechanism for disengaging saidmanually operable clutch after predetermined movement of said controlmeans.

3. A power operated disk tiller comprising a tiller frame supported bywheels, a tractor power take-off shaft journaled in a pedestal supportmounted on said frame, a change speed gearing housing having anantifriction bearing substan tially in alignment with said pedestalsupport and mounted on said frame, a driven shaft connected at one endto the take-off shaft by means of a universal joint and journaled nearits other end in the said anti-fraction bearing, a second power shaftjournaled at one end in said change speed gearing housing andoperatively associated 10 with said driven shaft through a change speedgear train within said housing, said second power shaft journaled at itsother end in a second housing, said second housing mounted on said frameand including means selectively operable by said power shaft to raiseand lower said supporting wheels with respect to said frame, and meansproviding a direct drive for operatively connecting said second powershaft and said disk tiller.

HERBERT H. ZWEMKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 743,535 Martin Nov. 10, 19031,740,321 Vasconcellos Dec. 17, 1929 1,928,952 Silver Oct. 3, 19332,063,584 Collins Dec. 8, 1936 2,312,424 Lentz Mar. 2, 1943 2,314,041Gurries Mar. 16, 1943 2,344,271 Scott et al. Mar. 14, 1944 2,490,688Hill Dec. 6 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 306,113 GermanyJune 18, 1918

